Mehbooba Mufti offers prayers at Sayeed’s grave

Srinagar, Feb 15 (IANS) Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti on Monday offered ‘Fateha’ prayers at her father Mufti Muhammad Sayeed’s grave in Anantnag district of Jammu and Kashmir.

Monday is the 40th day of mourning for Mufti Sayeed who died on January 7 in a New Delhi hospital.

Mehbooba Mufti accompanied by her mother Nusrat Ara, brother Tasaduq Mufti, sister Rubiaya Sayeed and other members of the family went to Bijbehara town to offer prayers at her father’s grave.

Heavy deployment of police and paramilitary troops was made all along the 40-km road from Srinagar to Bijbehara town to secure passage for the Mufti family.

While restrictions have been imposed in six police station areas of Srinagar, heavy deployment of security forces has been made in all major towns in south and north Kashmir areas to maintain law and order on Monday.

A shutdown called by separatists affected life in the Kashmir Valley as public transport, markets and other businesses remained closed.

The shutdown has been called in protest the killings of two youths, 19-year-old Danish Rashid Mir and 22-year-old Shaista Hamid, in firing by security forces in Kakapora area of Pulwama district on Sunday.

Police said Shaista died from a bullet injury suffered during cross-firing between militants and the security forces.

Danish, according to police, died because a tear-smoke shell hit him on the head when protestors were trying to break the cordon laid during a gunfight in the area.

Ten other civilians injured in the protests at Kakapora on Sunday are being treated in two hospitals in Srinagar city.